Assessment of cumulative exposure to UVA through study of asymmetric facial skin damage

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Authors: Sophie Mac-Mary¹, Jean-Marie Sainthillier¹, Adeline Jeudy³, et al

Published Date September 2010 , Volume 2010:5 Pages 277 - 284 DOI 10.2147/CIA.S13044

Sophie Mac-Mary¹, Jean-Marie Sainthillier¹, Adeline Jeudy³, Christelle Sladen², Cara Williams², Mike Bell², Philippe Humbert³

¹Skinexigence SAS, Saint-Jacques University Hospital, Besançon, France; ²The Boots Company, Nottingham, United Kingdom; ³Research and Studies Center on the Integument, Department of Dermatology, Saint-Jacques University Hospital, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France

Background: Published studies assessing whether asymmetric facial ultraviolet light exposure leads to underlying differences in skin physiology and morphology are only observational. The aim of this study was to assess the visual impact on the skin of repeated ultraviolet-A (UVA) exposure through a window.
Methods: Eight women and two men presenting with asymmetric signs of photoaging due to overexposure of one side of their face to the sun through a window over a long period of time were enrolled in the study. Split-face biometrologic assessments were performed (clinical scoring, hydration with Corneometer^®, mechanical properties with a Cutometer^®, transepidermal water loss with AquaFlux^®, skin relief with fringe projection, photography, stripping, and then lipid peroxidation analyses).
Results: Significant differences were observed in clinical scores for wrinkles, skin roughness assessed by fringe projection on the cheek, and skin heterogeneity assessed with spectrocolorimetry on the cheekbone. Other differences were observed for skin hydration, as well as skin laxity, which tended towards significance.
Discussion: This study suggests the potential benefit of daily UVA protection during nondeliberate exposure indoors as well as outside.

Keywords: UVA, asymmetry, photodamage, face